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Topic Review (Newest First)

01-25-2004 05:09 PM

molevolent_creations

wow didnt relize how many people would be offened by me typing a little missprint,

well i am 19 and the money thing shouldnt be an issue...
i live with my mom and im starting my appretiship after i graduate this year,
i have till august to get the engine done before the next races and trust me when i get something for my engine i work fast,
i think im going to build the 434 all i do is put money into my truck and a little on the gf,
so i guess the question now is,
what do i need to build the 434,
ive been lookin at some kits and stuff,
woud i only need a different cam? out of the things ive listed?
and will i need a different stall speed?
thanks guys

01-25-2004 02:47 PM

killerformula

A ford ranger weighs about 2800 pounds. I put my full-sized ramcharger on a truck scale once and it read 4400 pounds of wallowing excess.

K

01-25-2004 02:11 PM

Robinson Robin

My 791/2 weighs at least 4200lbs and thats with fiberglass fenders and hood there is no way your truck only weighs 2800lbs as camaro mentioned nova's and camaro's are 3000lbs plus and they are consitered pretty light

01-25-2004 12:30 PM

camaroman7d

At 19 years old, I think money is probably the limiting factot (I know it was when I was 19 and still is and I am 36).

Keep the 377 and put a nice healthy solid cam and a 3000 stall in it. This will get you where you want to be. Get a single plane intake and call it good. If you decide to build the larger engine in the future a cam will be a small expense in the grand scheme of things anyway. So buy a cam that will work in the 377 and if you build the other engine later just buy a new cam at that time. You can't have it both ways.

Royce

01-24-2004 09:19 PM

molevolent_creations

well i guess what engine is now the question...
im just wonder all the stuff ill have to change if i build a 415 now.
or i could stay with the 377 and add the intake cam carb stall and gears,
which im gona have to do with the 415 anyways,
will the cam change in size lots if i do build the 415 oposed to the 377?
cause i could by the rest of the stuff right now and then if all is good i can redo the bottom end......
what about stall speed?

01-24-2004 08:50 PM

camaroman7d

If your truck is down to 2800lbs I would be shocked, unless you have some fiberglass and have removed all excess weight. For an example a typical street Camaro weighs 3500lbs (talking 67-73).

You have to decide how much you want to spend and which direction you want to go. Once you know that then ask specific questions and you will get some great advice from the guys around here.

The reason I say that is: It takes a lot of research (time) to look up cam specs, compression ratios, what if this? what if that? So at least know what you want to do, so guys don't waste time giving you advice and then you decide you are going to build something else. Don't take this the wrong way, we are all here because we like talking about cars and helping each other out.

Once you know which engine you want to build (unless that is now the question), let us know and I'm sure you will get plenty of advice.

Personally if money is an issue, then keep the parts you have and make them work. If money is not an issue then build the larger engine. I know one thing for sure a running slightly smaller engine will beat a big engine that is still sitting on the stand because you don't have money to finish it.

Throw a cam in that 377 and a single plane intake, enjoy it for a while. For under $600 you can be out creating havoc. If it don't reach your goal (What is your goal?), you could always put a little juice to it.

i think you understand me royce..
its not that i put the stock cam in it, its that i ran out of cash when i was building this engine,
so the stock one stayed in for a bit....
now i have some flow again so i can finish this thing.

i think the truck is around 2800 pounds
its got 9.5:1 compression right now
im thinking of a edelbrock air gap intake
and 4.11 gears

any info on that will help greatly...
thanks guys
o ya its got a th350 with a shift kit and fresh rebuild, new clutch packs and all.

01-24-2004 06:20 PM

camaroman7d

You would be taking on a major project to try to stroke that 400 block to 434 or 427. There are a few issues with doing that with a GM block. I am not going to get into all that.

I agree a 377 might not be the best choice, but if that's what you have lets try to make it work.

If you are mainly concerned with performance, go with the 4.11's and 3000-3300 stall.

Why in the world would someone put a stock cam in a 377? (with Brodix heads),(nevermind).

Get a good solid flat tappet cam (need to know the weight, gears, intake, compression ratio, etc..) to make a suggestion.

I would go with a Vic Jr. with an open spacer, (you are going to have to spin this thing), if you want torque you should have built a 383 or 400, since you didn't use the engine for what it is best at.

Now that you will have more power than you know what to do with, how are you going to get that power to the ground? All the power in the world will do you no good if you can't hook.

Royce

01-24-2004 01:23 PM

molevolent_creations

i dunno if its worth all the hastle this year then....
plus if i dont do it this year it gives me something to look forward to next year......
so any answers to the original question then?

im thinking a 2500-3000 stall.
4.11 gears or 3.73...leaning towards 4.11
and edelbrock air gap intake
and a holley 750

and the cam thing
o ya and tire size....

thanks guys.
o ya it wasnt to bad for torque either this year it still cracks the tires loose, so it might be better for off the line if i dont have a crazy amount of torque......i
let me know what you guys think

01-24-2004 12:55 PM

killerformula

Strokers should all be internally ballanced. You should use a ballanced flywheel, of course, too. 434 I think is tough to get, an easier stroke is the 427 which is a great motor. You're only talking 8 cubes anyway. I think there's one of two issues to overcome. The block will definately have to be notched to accomodate the stroker assembly, but the exact details of that could probably be handled by your machine shop. Secondly, special rods, a small base cam or both must be used. Remeber if you use a small base cam you'll have to re-measure everything in the valvetrain and get different pushrods.

K

01-24-2004 12:48 PM

molevolent_creations

well i already have the heads and **** in there
i bought the engine off a builder last year droped it in like 5 days before the strip and it ran 16s and i was pretty happy with it,

say i do go all out this year....cause im now thinkin about it alot.
how hard is it to stroke a 400?
like a 434, do i have to get things machined? or can i just drop in the crank use my rods ?
or do i have to alter my block for clearance issuse?
any help would be great, im just wayin my options here
if its to hard to do the 400 stroked then ill just stick with what i got ,, and add the cam intake carb stall and gears

oya when you stoke a 400 does it go back to internally balanced? or is it external
thanks

01-24-2004 12:35 PM

killerformula

You're goign to go nuts on the street with so much stall. Why don't you go to a machine shop and see if they will trade you even up for a different crank rather than switching it a couple of years from now? You're going to spend all this money on brodix heads and a nice intake and an expensive cam just to not have the bottom end you want? A new cast crank can be had for very cheap, less than 300 bucks for sure. I think you could probably find one on ebay for 150, why not just make the switch now?!

Personally I really don't think this is the right way to build this motor for the truck, you're defeating yourself to get track numbers you could very easily get without so many RPMs or stall, plus it would be drivable on the street, your setup, unfortunately is not going to be very streetable. You're also not going to have a truck anymore either, because all those mods and engine changes will make the usefulness of the truck about nil.

Put a 383 or a 400 in it with a dual plane weiand stealth intake, not much stall, a mild cam and some decent gears (ones that wont tack out on the highway). If you're going to spend all this money do it right, you'll be happy you did-

K

01-24-2004 12:26 PM

molevolent_creations

if you guys read the" 377 destoked 400" post from before it says it all,
i didnt add to that one cause its old and like 4 pages now i think

its gona be for racing, at the strip. we went over the whole shoulda kept the 400 crank and stuff but im working with what i have right now, and i might change the crank and stuff a few years from now.

i do drive the truck on the road but its just for blowin people at the lights,
im not to worryed bout gas mileage and what not , i just need the quick truck so others on the street recondnise...

right now it runns 16seconds in the quarter mile, and thats with all that stock stuff listed above....
anyone with any info on what i should use, i would greatly appretiate it

01-24-2004 11:47 AM

camaroman7d

killerformula, is right on the money. We need more info.

Royce

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